Using Astrobotics to Prepare a Lunar Outpost

According to a CMU
news release, the CMU Robotics
Institute has partnered with Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
to prepare a NASA-sponsored study describing a lunar outpost constructed
by robots. Small moon robots, described as the size of riding
lawnmowers, would be used for tasks such as building a hard-surface
landing pading and a surrounding semi-circular berm. Both structures
would be constructed of indigenous materials (aka moon dirt). NASA
expects the lunar outpost to be in operation by 2020. Meanwhile William
"Red" Whittaker, CMU professor and Astrobotic's chief technical officer
is running field trials on the companies first lunar robot. For more
details, see Astrobotics report, Configuring
Innovative Regolith Moving Techniques for Lunar Outposts (PDF
format). More renderings of the robots and moonbase after the break.